Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, KCB, CBE, DSO, (born 1952) is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until February 4th, 2007, when he was replaced by US General Dan McNeill.

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  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, KCB, CBE, DSO, (born 1952) is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until February 4th, 2007, when he was replaced by US General Dan McNeill. Richards attended Eastbourne College and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1971. He then attended University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1974 with a degree in politics and economics. He served with the Royal Artillery in the Far East, Germany and the United Kingdom, including three tours in Northern Ireland, and served on the staff of the 11th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1984. He returned to 11th Armoured Brigade to command a field battery in 47th Field Regiment. He then served as the Chief of Staff of the Berlin Infantry Brigade for two years, before being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. He served as an instructor at the Staff College for three years, and was then given command of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. In 1994 he joined the Ministry of Defence as Colonel Army Plans. In 1996, after completing the Higher Command and Staff course, he was promoted Brigadier and became Commander of the 4th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He became Chief of Joint Force Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in 1998. In this role, as the default commander for short notice expeditionary operations, he commanded the UK Contingent in East Timor in 1999 and twice commanded a UK Joint Task Force in Sierra Leone in 2000. In April 2001 he became Chief of Staff of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, with the rank of Major-General. In 2002, he became Assistant Chief of the General Staff, and in January 2005 became the Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. In July 2006, command of the international forces (the International Security Assistance Force) in southern Afghanistan was passed to NATO forces under his command and he was promoted to the acting rank of full General (4-star). On returning from Afghanistan, he reverted back to his previous rank of Lieutenant-General. However, he is due to promoted to General permanently having been recently appointed Commander-in-Chief, Land Command with effect from February 2008 replacing General Sir Redmond Watt. Richards has attended the US Brigade Commanders, Combined Joint Force Land Component Commanders, and Joint Task Force Commanders (Pinnacle) Courses. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was appointed KCB in July 2007 in the operational and gallantry awards list for his services in Afghanistan. In addition to his orders, he has also been awarded campaign medals for Northern Ireland, East Timor (UN) and Operational Service Medals for Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He also wears the Golden Jubilee Medal from 2002. Richards lives near Salisbury. (en)
  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, KCB, CBE, DSO, (born 1952) is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until February 4th, 2007, when he was replaced by US General Dan McNeill. Richards attended Eastbourne College and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1971. He then attended University College, Cardiff, graduating in 1974 with a degree in politics and economics. He served with the Royal Artillery in the Far East, Germany and the United Kingdom, including three tours in Northern Ireland, and served on the staff of the 11th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He attended the Staff College, Camberley in 1984. He returned to 11th Armoured Brigade to command a field battery in 47th Field Regiment. He then served as the Chief of Staff of the Berlin Infantry Brigade for two years, before being promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. He served as an instructor at the Staff College for three years, and was then given command of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. In 1994 he joined the Ministry of Defence as Colonel Army Plans. In 1996, after completing the Higher Command and Staff course, he was promoted Brigadier and became Commander of the 4th Armoured Brigade in Germany. He became Chief of Joint Force Operations at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in 1998. In this role, as the default commander for short notice expeditionary operations, he commanded the UK Contingent in East Timor in 1999 and twice commanded a UK Joint Task Force in Sierra Leone in 2000. In April 2001 he became Chief of Staff of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, with the rank of Major-General. In 2002, he became Assistant Chief of the General Staff, and in January 2005 became the Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. In July 2006, command of the international forces (the International Security Assistance Force) in southern Afghanistan was passed to NATO forces under his command and he was promoted to the acting rank of full General (4-star). On returning from Afghanistan, he reverted back to his previous rank of Lieutenant-General. However, he is due to promoted to General permanently having been recently appointed Commander-in-Chief, Land Command with effect from February 2008 replacing General Sir Redmond Watt. Richards has attended the US Brigade Commanders, Combined Joint Force Land Component Commanders, and Joint Task Force Commanders (Pinnacle) Courses. His operational awards include a Mention in Despatches, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was appointed KCB in July 2007 in the operational and gallantry awards list for his services in Afghanistan. In addition to his orders, he has also been awarded campaign medals for Northern Ireland, East Timor (UN) and Operational Service Medals for Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He also wears the Golden Jubilee Medal from 2002. Richards lives near Salisbury." (en)
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  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards Photo: Crown copyright" (en)
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  • Lieutenant-General Sir David Richards, KCB, CBE, DSO, (born 1952) is a British military commander, and was the overall commander of international forces in southern Afghanistan from July 2006 until February 4th, 2007, when he was replaced by US General Dan McNeill. (en)
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  • David J. Richards (en)
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  • Sir David Richards (en)
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